CenturyLink Will End Copper Landline Service in Iowa
The telecommunications provider will phase out copper-wire infrastructure in 20 cities starting October 18.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Telecommunications
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CenturyLink will discontinue legacy copper-wire landline service in 20 Iowa cities beginning October 18, 2026. This transition aligns with Federal Communications Commission rules to modernize aging network infrastructure.
Why it matters
The shift highlights a broader migration away from physical copper-wire networks as providers pivot toward digital telecommunications. CenturyLink reports that customer reliance on these traditional systems has dwindled to negligible levels.
CenturyLink is moving users to a digital home phone service platform, which the company maintains is compatible with existing medical alert and security systems.
The players
CenturyLink
A telecommunications provider focused on broadband and legacy voice services that is currently upgrading its network architecture.
AT&T
A major telecommunications firm operating a large-scale national infrastructure stack that is simultaneously exiting the copper landline market.
Iowa Utilities Commission
The state regulatory body responsible for overseeing the transition and verifying service changes for residents.
Federal Communications Commission
The national regulatory authority establishing the rules for network modernization and infrastructure retirement.
The details
The transition replaces legacy copper-wire landlines, which carry analog signals over metal conductors, with digital home phone services. This modernization is driven by Federal Communications Commission (the U.S. agency regulating interstate communications) rules that encourage the retirement of outdated infrastructure in favor of digital alternatives. The newer digital systems convert voice data into packets for transmission over newer network standards.
Timeline
October 18, 2026: CenturyLink service termination begins in 20 cities.
October 30, 2026: AT&T discontinues landline services across the state.
The Tech Race
This transition follows the regulatory framework established by Federal Communications Commission copper retirement rules. It marks a broader industry departure from aging analog systems toward standardized digital network architectures.
Affected customers will need to migrate to CenturyLink’s digital home phone service to maintain connectivity. Residents should verify if their current home security and medical alert hardware requires specific configuration updates for the new digital platform.
The takeaway
Legacy copper-wire landlines are being retired in favor of digital-first infrastructure as carriers align with federal modernization standards. Residents should monitor notifications from their provider for specific service cutoff dates in their local area.
Further reading
Learn more about the infrastructure shifts occurring across the region in our Telecommunications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KCCI.
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